Utagawa Toyokuni I (初代歌川豊国) (artist 1769 – 02/24/1825)
Bandō Mitsugorō (坂東三津五郎) as the otokodate (Ume) Yoshibei (由兵衛) from the play 'The Gion Festival Chronicle of Faith' (Gion Sairei Shinkōki - 祇園祭礼信仰記) - this is number 5 (五) from this series
05/1815
10.25 in x 14.5 in (Overall dimensions) Japanese woodblock print
Signed: Toyokuni ga ((豊国画))
Publisher: Tsujiokaya Bunsuke
(Marks 548 - seal 01-107)
Censors seal: kiwame and Hamako
Number 5 (五) in the lower right corner
Lyon Collection - Kunihiro print of Ume Yoshibei
Ritsumeikan University - another panel from this composition This print represents a kabuki production from 5/1815.
The figure of Yoshibei, an otokodate, standing on the stage is about to draw his sword. The number five (五) printed in a circle in the lower right of this print should give us an idea of the size of this original multi-panel artwork - a pentaptych. So far we have only been able to find two of the prints in this group, but we will keep looking.
The birds decorating the garments worn by Bandō Mitsugorō indicate that this character is Ume no Yoshibei (梅由兵衛).
Tsujiokaya Bunsuke (辻岡屋文助) (publisher)
Bandō Mitsugorō III (三代目坂東三津五郎: 11/1799 to 12/1831) (actor)
actor prints (yakusha-e - 役者絵) (genre)
Ume no Yoshibei (梅の由兵へ) (role)
Gion Sairei Shinkōki (祇園祭礼信仰記) (author)
Otokodate - chivalrous men (男伊達) (author)